Agriculture In Washtenaw

Pursuing our inquines as to the lecline in population in rural towns n Michigan we come to Washtenaw county, with which Jackson is associated politically, being part of the ame congressional and senatorial district. We take pleasure in sayng that Washtenaw is one of the )est counties in the northwest. Except five of the large corn and stock counties of Illinois, it took the lead of all others in the value of its farm jroducts in 1880, according to the census returns. No other county in Michigan, nor one in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesota, equaled it in this respect. The value of its farm producís was $4,001,102 Other Michigan counties coming the nearest to it were Oakland, $3,783,294; Lenawee, $3,707,740; Jackson, $3, 564, 796. We desire to emphasize the fact by repeating it, that there was no other county in the northwestern states, except five in Illinois, that equaled it in value of farm products for the census year It is scarcely necessary to teil the readers of the Patriot much more concerning Washtenaw. The facts show that it is a fertile county. lts area is 720 square miles. It has an undulating surface, diversified by prairie and woodland, and interspersed with numerous small lakes. The soil is a sandy loam. It is a fine fruit county, and more attention is given to horticulture than in any other portion of of south-eastern Michigan. It is traversed by the Michigan Central, the Lake Shore, the Detroit, Hillsdale & Southwestern, the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern, and its north-east corner is touched by the Detroit, Lansing & Northern railroads. It is drained by the Huron and Raisin rivers and their branches, which furnish splendid water power. It has the State University at Ann Arbor and Normal School at Ypsilanti. In its location, advantages, ease in reaching markets, and fertility of soil, it is unsurpassed. The rural towns of such a county ought not show a decline in population. We do not believe they would if it were not for the blighting effect of bad economie legislation and the withering curse of excessive taxation. But, comparing the census of 1880 with 1890, we find: Townships. Pop. in 1880 In 1890 Loss Ann Arbor 1.400 1,38 17 Briderewater 1,255 1.084 171 Dexter 8T3 702 171 Freedom 1.374 1,134 239 Lima 1,021 991 30 Lodi 1,377 1,204 113 Lyndon 735 617 118 Manchester -2,394 2,178 216 Northfleld 1.273 1,210 63 Pittsfleld 1,233 1,158 75 Salem ..... 1,192 1,1S2 U 8aline 1,927 1,659 268 8cio .2,291 1,946 345 Sharon 1,161 1,014 147 Superior 1,253 1,096 157 Sylvan .2,260 1,558 2 Webster 96 863 106 Ypsilamti 1,459 1,236 213 Total loss in 18 towns 2,471 The following show gains: Towns, clties Pop in 1880 In 1890 Gains Augusta 1,640 1,759 129 York 1,717 1,906 Ic9 Ann Arbor, city 8,051 9.431 1,370 Ypsilanti, city 4,984 6,129 1,14 Total gain in 2 towns and citles 2,723 Nitgain in county for lOyears 3tO Augusta and York, southeast corner towns, have probably ■ been favorably affected by the construction of the Toledo and Ann Arbor railroad in recent years. With these exceptions al! the towns show a loss in population, which the gains in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti do not quite overeóme. It will do for hose who want an excuse and are unwilling to see the truth, to say hat these results are not the effect of economie legislation - tariffs, money, and state taxation - for the argument has been used for a hun[red years that if the cities grow, as a result of tanff legislation, the arming towns would prosper. The xperiment has been thoroughly ried; it has' signally failed as the esults show. Taxing commerce and agriculture to build up manuactures has driven our merchant hips from the oceans and blighted agiiculture. Rural towns and small villages, with rare exceptions, feel he injurious effect of this policy. Ve are protecting the wrong men. Our policy depends upon agriculure. Under the operations of laws ïeavily taxing trade to restrict or prevent it, for the benefit of manufacturing centers, agriculture and commerce are seriously injured. Rural towns are losing, not only in population, but in the value of their producís. This is denied by those whose political fortunes and party prejudices tie them to the cause of protective taxation, still the economie lesson of the figures presented cannot be successfully controverted. The people of Washtenaw county have found this out, and so they give about 1,500 majority for tariff reform. The influence of education and independent thought is apparent in. the wayits people vote. They know more than enough to ache when they are hurt; they know enough to demand a change from the economie policy that is hurting them .